Chapter 7 Managing the Information Technology Resource 1
Chapter 7
Managing Emerging Technologies
True-False Questions
1.
A traditional description of the Technology Life Cycle describes technologies as passing
through five phases.
2.
In the Emerging Technology phase of the Technology Life Cycle, a technology is considered
an innovation and is still developing in terms of capability and capacity.
3.
In the Key Technology phase of the Technology Life Cycle, a technology is considered
required in order for an organization to remain viable.
4.
Emerging technologies are defined as those technologies that are just coming out of research
and development labs and are becoming available for implementation in an organizational
setting.
5.
The Innovators adopter type of the Innovation Diffusion Theory model can be characterized
as organizations or people that are true skeptics, adopting technology mainly to stay in the
market.
6.
The Laggards category of the Innovation Diffusion Theory model can be characterized as
organizations or people that are true skeptics, adopting technology mainly to stay in the
market.
7.
The majority of organizations belong to the Laggards adopter type of the Innovation
Diffusion Theory model, whereby they adopt technology mainly to stay in the market.
2 Managing the Information Technology Resource
8.
A primary reason why organizations focus on technology change is to maintain competitive
advantage.
9.
Moore’s Landscape of Technology Adoption Life Cycle model looks at technology
innovation from a product provider point of view, rather than from a technology user’s point
of view.
10.
Implementing a given technology during the Early Adopters phase offers the greatest relative
benefit versus the cost of implementing the technology.
11.
Organizations that tend to place a greater emphasis on system design and engineering are
much more likely to adopt new technologies during the initial stages of its application.
12.
The normal distribution curve can be used to describe the rate of adoption of technologies.
13.
The S-curve can be used to describe the cumulative adoption of technologies.
14.
Sunsetting refers to the time period during which a new technology is considered emerging.
15.
An assimilation gap occurs when emerging technologies never become viable or accepted
as mainstream.
Chapter 7 Managing the Information Technology Resource 3
Multiple Choice Questions
16.
The Technology Life Cycle phase whereby implementing a specific technology becomes
required in order for an organization to remain viable is best described as:
a. emerging technology.
b. pacing technology.
c. key technology.
d. base technology.
17.
The Innovation Diffusion Theory adopter type which categorizes organizations or people as
true skeptics who adopt technology mainly to stay in the market, is best described as:
a. laggards.
b. early majority.
d. innovators.
e. late majority.
18.
Each of the following are technology diffusion categories in Moore’s Landscape of
Technology Adoption Life Cycle except:
a. technology enthusiasts.
b. thrill seekers.
c. visionaries.
d. skeptics.
19.
The greatest implication of not keeping pace with technology is best described as:
a. loss of competitive edge.
b. lack of control in running the business.
c. increased cost of production.
d. decreased customer satisfaction.
20.
The Innovation Diffusion Theory adopter type which offers the greatest relative benefit
versus cost to implement is best described as:
a. laggards.
b. early majority.
c. innovators.
d. early adopters.
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21.
The S-curve is best described by which of the following?
a. Rate of adoption of technologies
b. Cost and benefits by phase
c. Cumulative adoption of technologies
d. Time to market of emerging technologies
22.
Which of the following best describes the technology lifecycle stage whereby an
organization is most likely to implement a new technology if the organization emphasizes
R&D, has the tightest coupling between R&D and systems, has state of the art technical
capabilities, and are considered technical enthusiasts?
a. Innovator “pioneer”
b. Early adopter
c. Late majority
d. Laggards “me to”
23.
Which of the following best describes the discontinuous change that comes about as a result
of dramatic changes in the roles of the end user of a technology?
a. Paradigm shock
b. Application breakthrough
c. Learning by using
d. Competitive differential
24.
The process by which an innovation is communicated, over time, through certain channels to
members of a social system best describes:
a. standards.
b. diffusion.
c. convergence.
d. scanning.
25.
Which of the following best describes the lag between the acquisition of a product and its
actual deployment by an organization?
a. Diffusion
b. Chasm
c. Assimilation gap
d. Convergence
Chapter 7 Managing the Information Technology Resource 5
26.
Each of the following is a factor that can slow the adoption of new technologies except:
a. the technical standards in the industry are not clearly set.
b. the offering needs to undergo a significant regulatory approval process.
c. the offering does not provide substantial performance advantages over current solutions..
d. the offering was not forecasted as becoming an emerging technology.
27.
Which of the following best describes the phenomenon whereby more than one technology is
combined to create a new technology?
a. Speciation
b. Application
c. Convergence
d. Diffusion
28.
Which of the following best describes the process of keeping abreast of developments and
potential developments in the technology arena?
a. Technology convergence
b. Technology scanning
c. Technology evaluation
d. Technology forecasting
29.
Each of the following are common sources of information that can be used to facilitate
technology scanning except:
a. vendors and consultants.
b. universities.
c. early adopters.
d. parapsychologists.
30.
Each of the following are components of the Technology Assessment process that can be
applied to reducing the uncertainties that arise out of traditional static approaches to
evaluating emerging technology except:
a. scoping.
b. searching.
c. committing.
d. disposing.
6 Managing the Information Technology Resource
Fill In the Blanks
and development labs and are becoming available for implementation in an organizational
setting. Reference: p. 180
discontinued but exists alongside the new technology.
Reference: p. 186
knowledge as people move on to the next new technology.
Reference: p. 188-189
infrastructure supporting them, as a result of implementing a new technology.
Reference: p. 188
result of a dramatic change in their roles due to implementing a new technology.
Reference: p. 188
through certain channels to members of a social system.
Reference: p. 189
of adopters accumulates experience and knowledge of its use.
Reference: p. 190
technology; the greater the number of users, the greater the benefit of the technology.
Reference: p. 190
likelihood of a larger base of adopters..
Reference: p. 190
Chapter 7 Managing the Information Technology Resource 7
implemented.
Reference: p. 190
41.
The lag between the acquisition of a product and its actual implementation,
whether it is a temporary lag or a permanent difference, has been described as the
Reference: p. 196
43.
42.
The phenomenon whereby more than one technology is combined to create a new technology
44.
Two methodologies used to assess possible future developments include the scenario
developments in the technology arena.
Reference: p. 197
Reference: p. 197
of it occurring versus the impact the development would have on an organization.
Reference: p. 198
40.
8 Managing the Information Technology Resource
Essay Questions
46.
Give an example of a company that used an emerging technology and describe how it
provided them with a competitive advantage.
47.
List and briefly describe the four phases of the Technology Life Cycle.
Chapter 7 Managing the Information Technology Resource 9
48.
List and briefly describe the five adopter types from the Innovation Diffusion Theory model.
49.
Discuss a human resource consideration when evaluating and implementing new
technologies.
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50.
List and briefly describe two sources of information that can be used for technology
scanning.